A picture book biography about the barber shop of woodcarver Elijah
Pierce, recipient of the highest folk art honor in the United States.
"Creeeeak!" goes the screen door to self-taught artist Elijah Pierce's
barbershop art studio. A young boy walks in for an ordinary haircut and
walks out having discovered a lifetime of art.
Mr. Pierce's wood carvings are in every corner of the small studio.
There are animals, scenes from his life, and those detailing the
socio-political world around him. It's this collection of work that will
eventually win Elijah the National Heritage Fellowship in 1982 just two
years before his death. But the young boy visiting the shop in the 1970s
doesn't know that yet. All he knows is: "You gotta meet Mr. Pierce!"
Based on the true story of Elijah Pierce and his community barber shop
in Columbus, Ohio, this picture book includes cleverly collaged
museum-sourced photos of his art and informative backmatter about his
life. With engaging text by Pierce to the Soul! playwright Chiquita
Mullins-Lee and Christopher Award-winning author Carmella Van Vleet,
it's illustrated with striking Japanese woodblock by Jennifer
Mack-Watkins. A new addition to vital Black art history!